Fertilizer International 509 Jul-Aug 2022
31 July 2022
People
People
CRU has appointed Zain Ajlouni as its regional director of sales, marketing and customer services for the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA). She will be Dubai-based and cover the mining, metals and fertilizer sectors across the region.
Zain, who was previously an associate vice president at Guidepoint, has more than 10 years’ business development experience within the MENA region, having worked with banks and other financial institutions. Zain’s role at CRU will be to maintain and grow current client relationships and win new clients for its analysis and consulting businesses.
“Zain brings a combination of region-specific business development and language skills which are the perfect fit for us as we look to consolidate our position in the mining, metals and fertilizer segments – all major growth sectors in the MENA region,” said Glenn Cooney, CRU’s head of licensing and vice president of sales, Europe, Middle East India and Africa. “New and existing customers alike will benefit from Zain’s experience, and we’re delighted to welcome her to the team.”
In reply, Zain Ajlouni said: “This is a great opportunity to bring to bear my experience and networks in the Middle East and Northern Africa to bring CRU’s expertise to some of the most important and vibrant sectors of regional economies. I look forward to supporting my new clients to get the insights they need to support their strategic decision making.”
Fertilizer Canada has appointed Dan Demers as vice president (VP), government relations. Dan brings with him over 30 years of government relations and public affairs experience. He will lead the trade body’s advocacy work at federal, provincial, and municipal level.
Dan was formally VP for government relations and regulatory affairs at the Canadian Health Food Association. His career has involved advocacy on behalf of various industries, including health and pharmaceuticals and the non-profit and governmental sectors.
“We are excited to welcome Dan to the team,” said Karen Proud, Fertilizer Canada’s president and CEO. “We look forward to the expertise and experience he will bring to the role and to our organisation.”
Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal stepped down from Yara’s board of directors at the start of July. She resigned to avoid potential conflicts of interest with Statkraft, following that company’s updated strategy and its increasing focus on green hydrogen and allied areas. Birgitte continues in her role as executive vice president for European wind and solar at Statkraft.
Hakon Volldal became Nel Hydrogen’s new CEO at the start of July. Hakon was previously CEO of Q-Free, a tolling and traffic management company. He has also worked for consultancy company McKinsey and the leading recycling machine manufacturer TOMRA previously.
“I have looked forward to this day for a long time,” Hakon Volldal said. “Nel is an exciting company with a bright future, not only commercially, but also as a vital part of the green energy transition.”
He added: “We will further develop our company and technology offering, help our customers decarbonize their businesses and keep our position as the leader in green hydrogen technologies.”
To coincide with Volldal’s appointment, Nel’s outgoing CEO Jon Andre Lokke has joined the company’s board of directors. He welcomed the new CEO’s appointment.
“Hakon has achieved remarkable results in his previous positions. He is an analytical and knowledgeable leader and is now fully up to speed on Nel,” Jon Andre Lokke said. “I am convinced that the transition will be very smooth, and that he has the capabilities required to take our company to the next level.”
